Estimation of true audience size for digital content
A content server system provides a client device with content, such as an audio stream. Using various techniques, an estimate is made of the actual size of an audience associated with the provided content, rather than assuming that the audience is limited to a single user of the client device. The estimate may be made by the content server system, the client device, or the content server system and the client device collectively. Using the estimate of actual size of the audience, the content server system can take actions appropriate for the audience, such as providing advertisements appropriate for the size of the audience and for the collective characteristics of the audience members. The estimate of the actual audience size additionally allows the content server system to be compensated more precisely for any advertisements provided to that audience.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving a request for a playlist of songs to be streamed to a streaming client device of a first user;
providing streaming media comprising the playlist of songs to the streaming client device of the first user, the streaming media having primary content;
receiving first reaction data derived from the streaming client device;
determining whether the streaming client device satisfies a sharing criterion, wherein the sharing criterion describes the manner of output:
responsive to determining that the streaming client device satisfies the sharing criterion, detecting additional client devices that are co-located with the streaming client device based on the additional client devices being within range of a short range wireless communications transceiver of the streaming client device, the additional client devices being other than the streaming client device;
receiving additional reaction data derived from the additional client devices;
determining, based on the first reaction data of the streaming client device and the additional reaction data of the additional client devices, that the first user and users of the additional client devices are consuming the same streamed media comprising the playlist of songs requested by the first user provided to the streaming client device;
determining audience characteristics based on information associated with the first user and information associated with the users of the additional client devices; and
selecting additional content to be streamed, the additional content interspersed with the primary content, the selection based on the determined audience characteristics.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media comprises:
correlating the first reaction data and the additional reaction data with known information about the streamed primary content, the first reaction data and the additional reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the streaming client device and by sensors of the additional client devices.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the known information about the streamed primary content comprises timing of changes in volume or timing of changes in pitch of audio within the streamed primary content.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media further comprises:
determining that particular reactions identified within the first reaction data and within the additional reaction data occurred within a threshold time of the changes in volume or pitch of the streamed primary content.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining audience characteristics based on information associated with the first user and information associated with the users of the additional client devices comprises accessing user profiles associated with the users of the additional client devices.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first device receives the streaming media via an application and each of the other devices includes a corresponding application.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media comprises:
determining a degree of similarity among the first reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the streaming client device and the additional reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the additional client devices.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer processor perform actions comprising:
receiving a request for a playlist of songs to be streamed to a streaming client device of a first user:
providing streaming media comprising the playlist of songs to the streaming client device of the first user, the streaming media having primary content;
receiving first reaction data derived from the streaming client device;
determining whether the streaming client device satisfies a sharing criterion, wherein the sharing criterion describes the manner of output:
responsive to determining that the streaming client device satisfies the sharing criterion, detecting additional client devices that are co-located with the streaming client device based on the additional client devices being within range of a short range wireless communications transceiver of the streaming client device, the additional client devices being other than the streaming client device;
receiving additional reaction data derived from the additional client devices;
determining, based on the first reaction data of the streaming client device and the additional reaction data of the additional client devices, that the first user and users of the additional client devices are consuming the same streamed media comprising the playlist of songs requested by the first user to the streaming client device;
determining audience characteristics based on information associated with the first user and information associated with the users of the additional client devices; and
selecting additional content to be streamed, the additional content interspersed with the primary content, the selection based on the determined audience characteristics.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media comprises:
correlating the first reaction data and the additional reaction data with known information about the streamed primary content, the first reaction data and the additional reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the streaming client device and by sensors of the additional client devices.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the known information about the streamed primary content comprises timing of changes in volume or timing of changes in pitch of audio within the streamed primary content.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media further comprises:
determining that particular reactions identified within the first reaction data and within the additional reaction data occurred within a threshold time of the changes in volume or pitch of the streamed primary content.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein determining audience characteristics based on information associated with the first user and information associated with the users of the additional client devices comprises accessing user profiles associated with the users of the additional client devices.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media comprises:
determining a degree of similarity among the first reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the streaming client device and the additional reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the additional client devices.
14. A computer system comprising:
a computer processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer processor perform actions comprising:
receiving a request for a playlist of songs to be streamed to a streaming client device of a first user;
providing streaming media comprising the playlist of songs to the streaming client device of the first user, the streaming media having primary content;
receiving first reaction data derived from the streaming client device;
determining whether the streaming client device satisfies a sharing criterion, wherein the sharing criterion describes the manner of output;
responsive to determining that the streaming client device satisfies the sharing criterion, detecting additional client devices that are co-located with the streaming client device based on the additional client devices being within range of a short range wireless communications transceiver of the streaming client device, the additional client devices being other than the streaming client device;
receiving additional reaction data derived from the additional client devices;
determining, based on the first reaction data of the streaming client device and the additional reaction data of the additional client devices, that the first user and users of the additional client devices are consuming the same streamed media comprising the playlist of songs requested by the first user provided to the streaming client device;
determining audience characteristics based on information associated with the first user and information associated with the users of the additional client devices; and
selecting additional content to be streamed, the additional content interspersed with the primary content, the selection based on the determined audience characteristics.
15. The computer-system of claim 14 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media comprises:
correlating the first reaction data and the additional reaction data with known information about the streamed primary content, the first reaction data and the additional reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the streaming client device and by sensors of the additional client devices.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the known information about the streamed primary content comprises timing of changes in volume or timing of changes in pitch of audio within the streamed primary content.
17. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media further comprises:
determining that particular reactions identified within the first reaction data and within the additional reaction data occurred within a threshold time of the changes in volume or pitch of the streamed primary content.
18. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein determining that the first user and the users of the additional client devices are consuming the same media comprises:
determining a degree of similarity among the first reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the streaming client device and the additional reaction data comprising movement data collected by sensors of the additional client devices.